1943 replies to this topic

[LuckyThe1275]

Plus the insurance companies are killing me for some reason. only declared mod are wide wheels and Footman James is quoting me over £700, kept on secure private property! How are guys my age with 1275's/1380's getting cheaper??

Rough quote of £700 TPFT - fully modified (completely different engine!) parked roadside, at 17 (once passed). I live in and around the lowest risk band areas though... Helps alot.

[mini_mad69]

More fun today, going down a dual carridgway, maty tried to overtake, put my foot down and left him for dead, only to have my exhaust come off AGAIN!!!! so in the *peeing* rain in a layby i reattatched it, and found a better clamp in my tool box. Hopefully it will hold on long enough until my new y-piece arrives.

Looks like a new alternator then maybe?

No, I don't think so, it seems fine as far as im aware. I think it's a wiring fault. I thought I had sorted it earlier, the thing brown/blue wire that goes from the alternator to the solonoid had become detatched. So re-did that and jumped it off a friends car, it seemed ok. Now driving home from uni, I put the lights on and the dials dimmed, indicated and it did not flash, so raced home before the battery died. Had a look under the bonnet and all was well, earths clean and in good condition, all battery cables/terminals are in good condition. SO had a look in the boot and the earth was perfect, so it should be, only made the thing a couple of months ago, then saw this:



The red cable goes to an amplifier, so ignore that, the black cable is the main battery live. So will try renewing the terminal as it's not quite large enough too accept the fat cable. So will order a good quality terminal for it that will accept the wire better and maybe stop this electrical fault. It's doing my nut in!!!!



Oh and a broken mini:

Edited by mini_mad69, 08 December 2009 - 04:26 PM.

[mini_mad69]

I think I may have sorted out the electrical problem. Kinda hard to do when im at uni and don't have access too all of my tools. So have been fault finding with a 52mm volt gauge that I popped out of the dash. I think it was a accumilation of a few faults. Alternator connections were a bit rank, battery terminal and cable end were crap and frayed, the solonoid terminal bolt was loose and the ring connections were just sitting on it and not clamped. Jump started it of my housemates corsa, immediatly took the leads off and I was getting around 13v at the battery, alternator and the solonoid. Which is nice, and I know when my crappy little 52mm gauge reads 13 it's actualy around 14. (cheap and nasty ebay gauge)

So im happy with that, when running I turned everything on, and with a completly dead battery everything worked. Hopefully that'll sort it.

My new y-piece arrived from mini sport. Hopefully that will mean the exhaust will stop falling off!!!! Although it is slightly different in design to that of my current one and instead of the link pipe going inside the y piece it goes inside. So will have to wait and see if that fits tomorrow.

[LuckyThe1275]

Good to hear!

Looking forward to the next update.

Matt

[mini_mad69]

Got a replacment alternator of a mate, mymini007 off here. It appears to be working, even though I said that last time. I jump started it and immediatly took off the leads from the donar car. Then drove my car and the electrics were working, it appears to be running from the alternator and im getting the correct voltage at the battery soooooo, should be ok. I have to make a 70 mile drive home for christmas, and my exhaust is barely hanging on. I don't know whether to risk it and drive home or attempt to fit my y-piece which may or may not fit.

[LuckyThe1275]

Probably worth at least trying to fit it? Wouldn't it be less hassle than having to call the rescuers?

Nice new sig too Ben

[mini_mad69]

Probably worth at least trying to fit it? Wouldn't it be less hassle than having to call the rescuers?

Nice new sig too Ben

Yeah, that's my old one, thought I'd put it back inm someone said they recognised my posts by it.


Ok, I might give the y-piece a go tomorrow then. Looks like im not driving home tonight.


Ben

[Danny_California]

Home yet ben? Black Friday's calling you out!

[mini_mad69]

Home yet ben? Black Friday's calling you out!

Ha ha ha, I know it is,can't though, will be getting a skin full on sunday, skint after xmas shopping at the moment.
Will make the drive home tonight. Sorted the exhaust, it sounds sooooooooo pretty, it hasn't sealed properly since removing the DTM type exhaust.



So will go home tonight (hopefully)

Tomorrow may see some progress, I've got to get a video of the exhaust aswell.

Also, most people seem to be hating this cold weather, first time I've driven my mini with the heater on too heat the car not cool the engine ha ha.

Ben

[mini_mad69]

Just got home, car drove fine, It was running very cold though, so will have to fit a thermostat.

Charge light came on dimly aswell, so not fully sorted the charging problem yet, but have sorted it a bit.

[LuckyThe1275]

Glad the exhaust is sorted and you made it home.

Have you got a quickshift?

Matt

[mini_mad69]

Glad the exhaust is sorted and you made it home.

Have you got a quickshift?

Matt

Nope, I've driven a car with one and didn't like it.

I've got a cheap one in the shed but im not going to fit it.

[LuckyThe1275]

Oh ok. Just wondered since yours is really sporty.

Gearstick on mine is horrible. Can't ever tell if it's in first or neutral! I guess i'll get used to it. Might replace a few bits to tighten it up though.

Considered a quickshift for a short period of time, but it wouldn't suit my car - would suit ones like yours though

Edited by LuckyThe1275, 20 December 2009 - 03:16 PM.

[mini_mad69]

Oh ok. Just wondered since yours is really sporty.

Gearstick on mine is horrible. Can't ever tell if it's in first or neutral! I guess i'll get used to it. Might replace a few bits to tighten it up though.

Considered a quickshift for a short period of time, but it wouldn't suit my car - would suit ones like yours though

You get used to it, I can change gear in mine incredibly quickly.



Just getting insurance quotes at the moment as my parents have offered to pay it as a christmas present.

Strangly with all my modifications declared it added around £80. Not at all bad I think. I also know I will be getting a nice new set of wheels arches soon


It's sprung an oil leak around the timing cover again annoyingly. Will have to sort that sometime.


Also will fit a thermostat and choke cable soon so It will be a bit more bearable in the winter.

[mini_mad69]

Also will fit a thermostat and choke cable soon so It will be a bit more bearable in the winter.

Did that today, bits a bit easier to get going.
I added anti freeze to it a couple of months ago, got out today and the whole thing was frozen, started it and the water pump was solid. So to get it going I put a fan heater on the engine for a bit and then loosend off the fanbelt and started it without the waterpump spinning and it soon thawed out. Luckily no dmaage to the engine.
I fitted a thermostat that had been drilled, still running too cold so will fit a solid one tomorrow and see if thats better.